Within the university cosmos, students and employees alike will, sooner or later, encounter the institution of University Sports (known in Germany as Hochschulsport). Although participating in sports in Germany is largely a private matter—unlike in the USA—University Sports holds great significance for German universities and boasts a long-standing tradition.
Before World War II
Even before World War II, the “Office for Physical Exercise” (Amt für Leibesübungen) existed within the German Student Union. It was established to institutionalize grassroots student sports and to send elite athletes to the Academic World Games (the precursor to the Universiade). Years later, the Nazi regime weaponized this office for military purposes and introduced mandatory military sports, which were subsequently banned by the Allied powers after the war.
From 1948 until today
A few years later, in 1948, the German University Sports Federation (adh) was founded in Bayrischzell. Until the 1960s, it functioned as the “Sports Office of the Association of German Student Unions” (VDS). Remarkably, the adh was the first German sports federation in the post-war years to successfully reconnect with the international sporting community. This was impressively demonstrated by the “III International Summer University Week” in 1953, which took place in Dortmund as the first international elite sporting event in the Federal Republic after the war.
Since the 1970s, participation has been open to all university members, not just students. Professional sports staff were hired, and University Sports was officially anchored in legislation. Today, University Sports comprises 206 member universities (as of October 2025), whose students and staff can utilize the programs and compete in adh championships (e.g., the German University Championships). Furthermore, the adh is internationally integrated through its membership in the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
Exclusive Offer in April 2026
As a member of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, you can also benefit from the diverse University Sports program—and save a full 15% on course bookings in April 2026.
Because we cooperate with HU University Sports, you will also receive a 15% discount on our products at the HumboldtStore, where you can gear up with all the necessary sportswear.
